BATTLE OF THE BRANDS:

RAW vs. SMACKDOWN

FACTOR 1: CROWD

I really thought both crowds were on the weaker side, but I’m not surprised as neither one of these are your marquee WWE towns. But, since I have to choose, I think Raw had the better crowd. Not that it was great by any stretch, but it was enough to win.

WINNER: Raw

FACTOR 2: COMMENTARY

Ugh these teams need a desperate revamp in my opinion. I don’t know why it hasn’t happened yet in the era of WWE where things seem to change drastically from year to year. The WWE has a lot of talent at this spot, and I get they want to show it off, but having three people is getting too much for me. Either someone isn’t involved enough, or they’re trying too hard to make sure they get everything in. Corey doesn’t need to be on both shows, and could easily stay on SmackDown with Phillips, a proven tandem in NXT.

However, for this week, SDLive does get the win. Phillips and Graves are so good together, and they don’t need Saxton. I’d like to see him back in NXT where they desperately need some talent, and he could definitely help bring them along.

WINNER: SmackDown

FACTOR 3: MATCHES

Let’s start with Raw, hitting only the bigger matches. AOP beat Titus Worldwide, and I think these guys are more than set up to get a title run. However, I thought the same thing about The Ascension after their move from NXT. Seth & Roman defeated Ziggler and McIntyre after interference from The Revival. This leads to Lashley and Roman getting a shot at The Revival again and winning but through another DQ. Then the main event, KO vs. Strowman ends in a count-out after Owens tries to runaway throughout the match. He hides in a porta potty which eventually gets pushed off the stage with him inside.

On SDLIve Hardy retains his US Championship over The Miz in what I thought was a fun match. AJ Styles defeated Aiden English, and then gets jumped by his challenger for the WWE Title, Rusev. Becky Lynch(my favorite female wrestler tied with Alexa Bliss) defeated Peyton Royce, and the main event saw Team Hell No beat The Usos.

Okay, so I thought both shows had some fun stuff here this week, but SD Live had better stuff all around. I loved Jeff & Miz, I think Aiden English is vastly underrated as a performer and getting paired with AJ is never a bad thing, and that main event was fun with Team Hell No. So, I’m giving it to them.

WINNER: SmackDown

FACTOR 4: PROMOS

Nothing of interest happened on Raw here. Dr. Shelby is back, but meh, I didn’t really care. They ran Sasha & Bayley into the ground for me. The Corbin & Balor stuff is okay, and it is starting to get better. Their promo arguing and eventually fighting was well done, and their twtter promos are very good. Ronda Rousey, despite her suspension, will be at Extreme Rules essentially because she is only suspended from Raw and Extreme Rules is not Raw.

I liked the opening promo for SmackDown. It was well done, everybody involved has good mic skills, and it gave the main event for later in the evening some meaning. The New Day is always good, and their segment with SAnity was fun. I can’t believe Asuka is wasting time with Ellsworth. I get it, but it should’ve been a one week thing. Not a month. However, I liked SD Live’s promo’s better this week.

WINNER: SmackDown

FACTOR 5: STORYLINES

AJ & Rusev has been fun so far with the addition on Aiden English getting a bit more involved. SAnity & New Day are polar opposites which is exactly why this is going to work so well just like New Day and the old Wyatt Family. I’m hoping we see an eventual Jeff Hardy vs. Eric Young for the US Championship cause Eric Young is the real deal. Team Hell No being back is best for business right now. It’s evident Kane is on his last run, and Bryan still has time to get that last big push that everyone is waiting for. Maybe against AJ going towards next ‘Mania. So, taking some time to have some fun here is no problem in my eyes. Asuka and Ellsworth is a different story.. I think it’s a waste of time. It would’ve been a fun one match blow off, but it has dragged on too long for me.

KO & Strowman are carrying Raw alongside Seth & Ziggler. An eventual three way with McIntyre involved is the most ideal for me. I think Lashley is just snake bit here for whatever reason. Nothing he has done so far has stood out for a remotely good reason. His stuff with Roman is following the same path. The tag scene is great right now tho. Revival, AOP, Wyatt & Hardy. That is great stuff there. Rousey is the face of the women’s division soon, but Alexa and Nia are doing some good stuff until it is Rousey’s kingdom. Bayley and Sasha is just filler for me now, which is sad for what was once one of the best rivalries we had seen.

The more intriguing options come from SD Live so they get the W.

WINNER: SmackDown

FACTOR 6: SCHEDULING / PACING

SD Live kind of flew by I think, and that is what a good paced show should feel like. Not a lot of lulls, and really you don’t have time for it in only two hours.

WINNER: SmackDown

FACTOR 7: VISUAL PRESENTATION

Owens hiding in the porta potty, getting pushed off the stage, and then coming out covered in the blue water that is in those porta potty’s is too good not to have win here.

WINNER: Raw

EXTRA CREDIT BONUS ROUND!!!

Nothing.

POINT ADJUSTMENTS: Raw (+0 / -0) / SmackDown (+0 / -0)

THIS WEEK'S WINNER = SmackDown

SmackDown has been doing some good stuff lately. It feels so much different than Raw not just in time difference but in overall action and how the show is presented. I think they are poised to continue this run if they keep doing what they’re doing. They win this week 5-2.

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